The Billionaire's Wife

03.

Sarah's POV:

The Next Day 

Today is our family's monthly BBQ, mom wanted to invite Alaric but I told her it was too soon and he was still upset about the arranged marriage. Anyone will be upset when they are in an arranged marriage with someone they're not interested in.

"How soon will you and Alaric have kids after you're married?" Suzy teased and I blush.

"Stop teasing her Sue", Sammy comes to my defense, although we're half-siblings, we treat each other as though we are full-blooded siblings. My mom and our father got married when Suzy was 3 and Sammy were 5, I was born two years after; their biological mother passed away not long after Suzy was born.

"We're never having kids, once the five years are up I'm filing for a divorce", I say boldly.

"What if you end up falling in love? Five years is a long time", she states.

I scoff, "over my dead body."

"Stop being stubborn, Sam I am betting one of them will fall in love within the first year of marriage", Suzy turns to Sam.

"Six months tops."

"You're on, the winner gets one grand", she smirks.

"Deal."

They shake hands, I can't believe they just bet on my marriage, I hope they both lose.

My niece and nephews are playing inside the playing room that dad made for them on the second floor, baby Naomi is sleeping in the playing pen in the living room where mom is currently.

I am outside with Suzy and Sammy next to the pool, their spouses are in the kitchen.

"I can't wait to tell my niece or nephew about how crazy their mother was when she was younger", Suzy laughs.

"Are you talking about me?" I frown.

"Of course, I don't care what you say, you and Alaric will have kids because you'll be doing it because he can't go looking somewhere else because his father will never hand the family company to him if he dares cheat on you", she explains.

"We wouldn't last a month without doing it so once married you have at least a month to mentally prepare yourself", Sam adds.

"He has his hands", I scoff.

"It would hold him off, but not for long because you're both married to each other so it wouldn't be a problem doing it", Suzy shrugs," he's a guy with hormones, I'll be surprised if he makes it past a month."

"He already told me we'll be staying in separate rooms so I wouldn't hold my breath if I was you", I cross my arms.

'He's saying that for now, you just wait and see, no one can resist the Barlowe's charm", she smirks

I roll my eyes.

Emily and Brad, Suzy's husband come outside laughing.

"What's so funny?" Suzy smiles.

"I was telling him about my first thanksgiving experience as Sammy's girlfriend when Aiden burned Olivia's turkey", Emily says and we all laugh, I remembered that mom told dad to watch the turkey while she goes to pick up her parents from the airport. She was so upset when she came back with grandpa and grandma that we ended up going to a restaurant and eating instead, Emily and Sammy recently started dating back then and Suzy was single.

"My first Christmas with this family, I was so nervous that your parents wouldn't have accepted me", Brad adds.

"They ended up loving you instead", Suzy kisses him.

I was in high school when Suzy brought Brad home for the first time, she was a freshman in university.

"Yeah."

Dad comes outside with the stuff to make the BBQ, he has on his chef hand and apron, "the chicken isn't going to BBQ itself guys."

Sammy and Brad go to help dad while we go inside to meet mom.

Suzy goes to the living room to check on her baby while Emily goes upstairs to check on the kids probably, I sit by the kitchen counter and go on my phone.

I get a message from Phoebe.

Phoebe: You wouldn't believe what happened last night, Dante asked me to make it official *squeals* 

Me: Congrats, I'm so happy for you guys

Phoebe: When will you be annoying your engagement publicly? The gala is coming up

Me: Before the end of the month, I have to meet up with Alaric this week so he can show me his house is and I will possibly choose my engagement ring

Phoebe: So exciting, keep me posted, Dante is introducing me to his parents as his girlfriend sometime this week, can you come as moral support?

Me: No way, I'm busy, I manage a business and mom wants me to pick a venue for the engagement party

Phoebe: Good luck

Me: Mr. and Mrs. Hale are nice people and they know you so you have nothing to worry about

Phoebe: You're right

Me: We'll have to hang out soon

Phoebe: Thursday evening, Dante is working late to follow up a story so girls night out

Me: See you then

Phoebe lives just outside the city in an urban area, she's doing her doctorate in nursing while working in a private hospital. She has a busy schedule so when she has free time we take full advantage.

Mom comes into the kitchen putting on her apron, "you're making the fresh salad so get to it."

I sigh and get off the high chair to get the ingredients.

"When are you meeting up with Alaric?" Mom asks.

"Tuesday or Wednesday, he has to contact me", I answer.

"It'll work out don't worry", she assures me, "he isn't a bad guy."

"Yeah, but he has a girl best friend who is single, I bet he has endless pictures of them together", I roll my eyes.

"She knows her boundaries, don't worry."

"Doesn't matter she was there first and he made it clear she wasn't going anywhere", I scoff.

"He'll be your husband don't let any third party get into your relationship, I had challenges with your father as well and criticism."

"How did you overcome it?"

"With love, your father loves me so much and we fought for our relationship because we started to date not long after Suzy and Sam's mother passed away."

Mom had challenges, her in-laws didn't like her at all especially grandma, dad's mother who loves Suzy and Sammy but treats me and mom like crap, but as I grew up she grew fond of me and mom.

I nod and wash my hands as Suzy comes in with Naomi in her arms, "look who's up", I coo and take Naomi from her. She'll be a heartbreaker in the future just like her brother with their blue eyes.

"I'm going to make her a bottle", Suzy takes out her stuff from the baby bag she had on the counter.

Naomi giggles as I coo at her, I brush a piece of her blonde hair from her face.

Brad comes in and Naomi stretches for him, "hello pumpkin", he takes her from me.

I wash my hands again and begin o chop up the vegetables for the salad.

Suzy hands Brad the bottle she made to feed Naomi, he kisses her and leaves.

"Do you think Sammy and Emily will try for another kid soon?" I ask.

"I hope so that way Naomi can have a cousin around her age", mom replies.

"Don't worry mom, Sarah will give you a grandchild", Suzy smirks and I glare at her.

"Not gonna happen, Alaric isn't interested in me."

"He will be when you start living together", mom assures me.

"I don't want to leave my apartment, I'm comfortable there", I sigh.

"Alaric's house is close to the company so it wouldn't make a difference", mom states, "just give him a chance Sarah that's all I'm asking, it's been years since you been on a date."

"No need to remind me mom", I sigh.

My last relationship didn't end well and left me hesitant to date, it's been three years now.

____

We all are sitting around the picnic table with our food, the kids already had their baths and change into comfortable clothing; Naomi is asleep in her stroller that is next to Suzy.

"Congrats to Sarah once again", Emily smiles, I give her a small smile.

"I'm the maid of honor of course", Suzy adds.

"Actually Dante is my man of honor", I announce.

"What? Who will be Alaric's best man?"

I shrug, "probably Mackenzie as his best woman."

Emily laughs, "a reverse in roles, that will be funny to see."

"I'm just saying, but Phoebe is already my maid of honor, Dante is probably Alaric's best man, Mackenzie can be a bridesmaid if she wants", I state.

"She is Alaric's wing woman, she definitely going to be his best woman", Suzy shakes her head.

"I'll have to discuss it with Alaric", I say.

"I already have a guestlist for our side of the family, Daphne preparing the guestlist for the Hale family", mom explains, "we have common associates so they'll e counted as one."

"After the announcement, a date for the wedding will be made if not before then the invites will be sent out", dad adds.

"Please don't invite the Brown family", I plead.

After the announcement, a date for the wedding will be made if not before then the invites will be sent out", dad adds.

"Please don't invite the Brown family", I plead.

"That's one of our biggest investors Sarah plus Alaric's is his daughter's best friend, of course, they will automatically be there", he points out.

I roll my eyes, Mackenzie's brother was interested in me, but hopefully, that stops now since I'll be engaged.

"This will be the biggest wedding of the year, paparazzi will want to see a glimpse of anything pertaining to the wedding, it's so exciting", mom smiles.

Sammy's wedding had a lot of people, I am thinking my own will be twice that size. Suzy's own was nice and simple with close relatives, family, and associates; I wish my own can be like that but it's Alaric Hale we're talking about. He's the most popular bachelor in the city right now so the wedding will be extravagant.

After eating and chatting all evening, we clean up and everyone packs up to leave. It is back to work tomorrow morning and I have an interview to do with a new job that has been open recently, dad thought I might need an assistant manager.

"Bye, see you soon", mom hugs me.

"I'll tell you how it goes with Alaric", I inform her.

She nods.

Dad has gone to his study room, he is preparing to hand over the business fully to Sammy soon, I can remain as the manager to some of the company's buildings. Our company deals with technology and making new devices to improve access to the world wide web, it is affordable and a warrant can last up to 3 years.

I leave and go to my car, my phone rings.

"Hello?" I answer the unsaved number.

"Meet me at my house at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, I'll send you the address and don't be late", Alaric says and hangs up.

I get a message with the address and to dress appropriately,

Looks like Tuesday we're going to get the engagement ring.

________________